Health, salvation and larger portions
Former Bay Street worker shares the fast food he’s craved for years
Adam Spagnuolo, 25, is a strapping guy who works long hours and frequents the gym.
Since university — he did a degree in business at Laurier — he’s been hungry. “I struggled to find healthy food on the go that made me feel good after.”
Fast food burgers and pre-made sandwiches just did not cut it.
He wanted the kind of massive salad you make for yourself at home, when you have the time. A big pile of greens loaded up with vegetables and a sizable piece of chicken, steak or salmon.
After years of plotting, he’s now offering the kind of supersized, super healthy food he’s long craved via Salus Fresh Foods, which opened in October on Carlton St. just east of Yonge St.
During university, while he was learning the basics of business and the intricacies of finance, he’d share endless entrepreneurial ideas with friends. He kept coming back to this one, hatched in his second year, for a fresh food emporium that delivered big salads, wraps and smoothies for the health-conscious hard worker.
After graduation, Spagnuolo ended up on Bay Street, first as a trading desk intern, then as an equity analyst for mutual funds. The hours were punishing — and the right meals were hard to score.
“When you work so much, the last thing you want to do is cook,” he said.
His idea seemed more apt than ever. As part of his job, Spagnuolo often got to speak to business owners. He loved hearing their stories of entrepreneurship.
Their tips and suggestion, plus his own food discoveries at home and while travelling, went into his business plan, which he wrote gradually over many years.
Finally, last May, he quit his job and got this venture underway. His longtime roommate from both Waterloo and now Toronto responded with “finally” when Spagnuolo told him the idea was on.
Spagnuolo opened at this location on Carlton, hoping it would offer an interesting mix of his target market: students, athletes (Ryerson’s athletic centre is steps away), office workers and tourists.
He named it Salus, after the Roman goddess of health and salvation.
Now, Spagnuolo still works long hours, but it’s all about growing this business and brand. He sells big salads for $9.99, plus extra for a protein, and $11.99 for downright massive ones. He’s got wraps and smoothies on order too. A big seller is the Gusto Box, a filling, protein-loaded meal with a brown rice base and loaded with veggies such as carrots and corn, black beans, goat cheese and roasted chicken.
While Spagnuolo’s idea has been years in the making, he’s still tweaking the concept. He’s inventing new dressings, pondering more winterfriendly menu items — Canadians don’t crave salad in the dead of winter — and brainstorming things like new locations.
Once this place settles, Spagnuolo envisions stores near other universities and more intensive office tower locations.
He thinks often of the hungry people down on Bay Street.
“I’d love to be back, feeding my former colleagues.”